Green Living
The 1980's will probably be best remembered as the decade in which the environment rang alarm bells around the world.
Life is very convenient. We buy what we want, what we need and (sometimes) what we can afford. We dispose of our rubbish through apparently well organized systems, bins, refuse sites, down the drain. Out of sight...out of mind.
But convenience has its own price tag. How well does the product perform? How good does it taste? How fast can it travel?
Now we add an environmental price. How can we minimize the damage we might do to our world as we satisfy our own needs? Friendliness to the Environment has become a factor in the consumers choice. Therefore, becoming a consideration for manufacturers and suppliers.
We have given ourselves Green Consumer Power.
The problems facing our world wont be eliminated by changes in everyday living alone. Making the 'greenest' choice is often difficult to establish also. But, the relationship between an informed Green consumer and the marketplace (working to satisfy that consumer) is a strong positive force.
Every one of us is a consumer of the world's products. Everyday we shop for simple necessities or luxery items. When we do this we are making choices that affect the environmental quality of the world we live in. So we shouldn't underestimate our power as an individual.
Few people can take into acount the link between what we do day to day and the environmental destruction occuring in the process. Do many people take into acount that every hamburger they eat contributes to the deforestation of the world tropical rainforests? Cattle ranching has been one of the causes of this deforestation in Costa Rica and Brazil, particularly between the 70's and 80's.
A lot more people now want to do the right thing, but simply dont know how, or, regard it as an alternative lifestyle. If you like the finer things in life or the basics comforts, everyone can contribute to a greener living society. Producers must abide by the consumers wishes if they want to survive in the world marketplace. The Green consumers are already here and are having an enormous impact on the marketplace. Think of the changes that have already taken place. 'Hard' detergents have already been replaced with 'soft' more biodegradable products. The automobile industry has also swung from 'leaded' fuel to 'unleaded' fuel and have altered the manufacture of their cars to be more environmentally friendly.
It is the consumers ability to change from product "A" to product "B". Even more of a worry to producers and retailers is the ability of the consumer to stop buying that product altogether. This is when producers sit up and take notice.
Don't think that your decision to buy or not buy will barely affect the market. Market researchers and Companies take notice when 1000's of people start to behave the same way. Demand Green products and you help to develop new market opportunities for manufacturers and retailers, which will encourage them to invest in new products and services specifically aimed at the Green Consumer.
